A market full of ... books

A market full of ... books
New Indian Express

Swami Anjaneya temple is the landmark. Mysore bank too is close by. A gaze through the whole (And of course wide) stretch of Avenue Road presents a vivid picture of a fine Sunday evening — accompanied by the expected crowd, unexpected rain and hordes of book worms standing in a daze, amidst the pile of books. Avenue Road welcomes you with greetings of the booksellers.

As a newcomer to Bangalore, when you go searching for second hand books, you are inevitably directed to Avenue road. Says S Marimuthu, who’s been in the second hand book business for the past 20 years, “My day begins and ends here — amidst these books — which makes me feel energetic.”

But sudden showers played spoilsport on his Sunday business. Though he was busy shifting the books from the temporary road-side shop into his concrete shop, he took time out to explain the particulars of his business.

“Students come and give me books of different subjects — medicine, science, engineering, architecture, marketing, and advertising among others. According to their requirement I exchange books or give money in return.”

It’s not just second hand books that ‘rule’ the place. A whole range of pirated books are also on display. That too with boys hawking them. Question them and they tell you that they work only during holidays. They maintained silence on questioning their source of pirated books. Serious business indeed!

You will also meet a lot of Sunday sellers. Says one of the shop keeper, “I sell here only on Sunday. I come here with books on different topics as students as well as professionals are our regular customers.” He tackled the rain by covering plastic sheets on the books spread on the footpath.

If you however thought that it’s a place meant only for books and book lovers, then take another look around. Clothes, jewellery, flowers, fruits and much more are found in the street. You may also bump into your ‘brothers’ calling out to you, Aapko kya chaahiye bahanji?

Further down, the paanwaalas and street vendors selling fruits, vegetables and collectibles make a picture-perfect market. The few restaurants found there, deliver tasty and average-priced food.

Sellers are seen sitting and chatting about their day’s sale. One can smell freshly-brewed coffee from a shop; play hotch potch with the dirt on the road; and make passing eye contact with thousands of strangers.

As the walk stretches endlessly, different scenes attract your attention till you realise that both time and distance has passed by too quickly indeed. And when you say ‘good bye’ to the book sellers and other vendors, they will reciprocate with a smile — a smile that comes straight from the heart.